Hi, all, and happy Monday! Hope you had a restful weekend, and that yesterday’s “Extra! Extra!” newsletter brought you a little extra joy. You certainly deserve it. There’ll be a lot going on this week, as Congress comes back into session for a short but extremely vigorous stint. We’ll have important votes on the NDAA, the Farm Bill, and various appropriations bills, and Republicans are looking to do dastardly things in all of them. But don’t worry—I’ll be here to tell you exactly what kind of noise to make, and when.
“we’re going to do our usual Monday push on gun violence, because every day in America is a day that 500 people die from just that.”
I find it very concerning when somebody is killed by gun violence and reports say that they “lost their life“. As if it was something that they carelessly misplaced rather than had violently taken from them. It’s a wording that lays the onus for the act on the victim, rather than the murderer.
It is should not be said that 500 “people die“ from that, but that 500 “people are killed“.
I agree with Christopher Foxx about wording that people are killed, Also I have a paranoid schizophrenic son who should not legally own a firearm under any circumstances. But Nancy and I have an isolated rural home and should not be without a handy shotgun under any circumstances.
My thought about letters in envelopes is people could easily toss them in the trash without opening them. With a postcard, I feel I stand a better chance it will get read at least before being tossed.
I urge you to vigorously investigate Supreme Court corruption including its finances. Reporting shows that justices are shockingly open to gifts—bribery in plain language—from billionaire “dear friends.” Now the Times reports on a bizarre billionaire secret society using the court room, at Clarence Thomas’s behest, for “knighting” new members and graduations of scholarship recipients.
This is a court that has run completely amok. Its right wing members have broken an institution that is necessary to democracy. Please investigate and find ways to regulate rogue justices.
Hi again, Jessica. I just watched the Abortion Academy #1 again, and it, again, stunned me with how much I do not know about late term abortions, and how critically important this information is. Everyone needs to know it. I truly believe it needs to be turned into a book. And we are just at episode #1 on this issue. Everyone should sign up to see all the episodes coming up.
If anyone is reading this and doesn’t know what I am talking about, go here to see the episode - (1hr, 20 minutes). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3dz-3ZHPCE Jessica wrote about it in her July 10th Substack column, that these comments are attached to.
I also listened to the 2 “More Perfect” episodes from NPR, mentioned by the speaker Erika Christensen about where the term “viability” in relation to abortions came from. Seriously,……from a young male law clerk, and also Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun, who was writing the Roe v. Wade decision, literally, he says it himself, from the standpoint of getting the other Justices to agree with him on the issue. He only considered the legality, nothing about what women go through, or why, etc. Granted, that is his job, but still. I highly recommend everyone listen to those 2 episodes, as well. Here is the link.
NPR podcast, “More Perfect”, about where the viability standard re abortions came from -
OMG, holy sh**, Jessica. The video from Abortion Academy is totally mind blowing!!! I could listen to Erica for hours. In fact, I need to watch it again to write down some of the info and groups she gave us, so I can send them money. Thank you for an amazing educational experience. I signed up and can’t wait to see episode 2, and whatever number the ‘criminalization of pregnancy’ episode is going to be. OMG! People, you all need to make the time to watch this, men and women alike!! Even if you think you are pro choice, which I am, even if you’ve had an abortion, which I have had. I had no idea, no comprehension, no anything about this issue. I can’t thank you enough, Jessica. You rock!!
OMG I 'm so glad you had the same experience I did watching that video. I was like OMG I've been doing so many things wrong! There's SO MUCH I didn't know! I'm actually planning on watching the whole thing again, and I never do that. I wish I'd seen something like it years ago. Shout Your Abortion is an amazing org and that speaker is also AMAZING.
My therapist always told me that I didn’t do anything wrong, that I always did the very best I knew how, every minute of every day, based on the information I had at that moment. When I learned new information I would do it differently than before. So you didn’t do it wrong, you just didn’t know. And now you do.
She was the best. And I try, not always successfully, to apply that understanding to Republicans, MAGA’s, and more. We all are doing the best we know how with the info we have at this moment in time. We don’t get up in the morning and say I think I’ll go screw up a bunch of stuff today. Well, maybe some people do, but the greater majority of us don’t. Most of us are always trying to do our best at every moment of the day. Most of us just don’t know any other way to be or think. Too much Fox News, or banned books at their school, or lousy parents, or ?? So I try to have some empathy for them, when I am not to wound up by their actions. But I am rambling. Yes, an excellent therapist.
“we’re going to do our usual Monday push on gun violence, because every day in America is a day that 500 people die from just that.”
I find it very concerning when somebody is killed by gun violence and reports say that they “lost their life“. As if it was something that they carelessly misplaced rather than had violently taken from them. It’s a wording that lays the onus for the act on the victim, rather than the murderer.
It is should not be said that 500 “people die“ from that, but that 500 “people are killed“.
Excellent point and I will try to remember it in future.
I agree with Christopher Foxx about wording that people are killed, Also I have a paranoid schizophrenic son who should not legally own a firearm under any circumstances. But Nancy and I have an isolated rural home and should not be without a handy shotgun under any circumstances.
Absolutely. Responsible gun ownership is what it's all about!
Have forwarded this one to a colleague starting work at a PP Clinic. Encouraged her to sign up, if she’s not already done so.
THANK YOU for all you do, Jess!
Oh yay! Thanks!
Great webinar with Erika Christensen. She's a powerhouse. Learned many new things. Thanks, Jess.
SO GOOD right?
Can you repost the email address for the Chairman of the board/CEO of State Farm.
My letter keeps coming back address unknown. mltipsord@statefarm.com
Hmmm remind me which action this is associated with?
Postcarding's my thing. Thanks for the Activate America info! I'm also waiting for Blue Wave to send me their preprinted postcards to send.
Sure! I've been writing the Working America letters and those are great, too. So easy!
My thought about letters in envelopes is people could easily toss them in the trash without opening them. With a postcard, I feel I stand a better chance it will get read at least before being tossed.
This is a prepaid petition. Text to 50409 “Sign prbznz” without quotes to sign our petition to regulate the Supreme Court.
https://resist.bot/petitions/PRBZNZ
I urge you to vigorously investigate Supreme Court corruption including its finances. Reporting shows that justices are shockingly open to gifts—bribery in plain language—from billionaire “dear friends.” Now the Times reports on a bizarre billionaire secret society using the court room, at Clarence Thomas’s behest, for “knighting” new members and graduations of scholarship recipients.
This is a court that has run completely amok. Its right wing members have broken an institution that is necessary to democracy. Please investigate and find ways to regulate rogue justices.
Hi again, Jessica. I just watched the Abortion Academy #1 again, and it, again, stunned me with how much I do not know about late term abortions, and how critically important this information is. Everyone needs to know it. I truly believe it needs to be turned into a book. And we are just at episode #1 on this issue. Everyone should sign up to see all the episodes coming up.
If anyone is reading this and doesn’t know what I am talking about, go here to see the episode - (1hr, 20 minutes). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3dz-3ZHPCE Jessica wrote about it in her July 10th Substack column, that these comments are attached to.
I also listened to the 2 “More Perfect” episodes from NPR, mentioned by the speaker Erika Christensen about where the term “viability” in relation to abortions came from. Seriously,……from a young male law clerk, and also Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun, who was writing the Roe v. Wade decision, literally, he says it himself, from the standpoint of getting the other Justices to agree with him on the issue. He only considered the legality, nothing about what women go through, or why, etc. Granted, that is his job, but still. I highly recommend everyone listen to those 2 episodes, as well. Here is the link.
NPR podcast, “More Perfect”, about where the viability standard re abortions came from -
https://www.npr.org/podcasts/481105292/more-perfect
scroll down to each of these episodes to listen
6/8/2023 - Part 1 - The Viability Line (45 minutes)
6/15/2023 - Part 2 - If Not Viability, Then What? (35 minutes)
Thank you so much for posting all of this!
OMG, holy sh**, Jessica. The video from Abortion Academy is totally mind blowing!!! I could listen to Erica for hours. In fact, I need to watch it again to write down some of the info and groups she gave us, so I can send them money. Thank you for an amazing educational experience. I signed up and can’t wait to see episode 2, and whatever number the ‘criminalization of pregnancy’ episode is going to be. OMG! People, you all need to make the time to watch this, men and women alike!! Even if you think you are pro choice, which I am, even if you’ve had an abortion, which I have had. I had no idea, no comprehension, no anything about this issue. I can’t thank you enough, Jessica. You rock!!
OMG I 'm so glad you had the same experience I did watching that video. I was like OMG I've been doing so many things wrong! There's SO MUCH I didn't know! I'm actually planning on watching the whole thing again, and I never do that. I wish I'd seen something like it years ago. Shout Your Abortion is an amazing org and that speaker is also AMAZING.
My therapist always told me that I didn’t do anything wrong, that I always did the very best I knew how, every minute of every day, based on the information I had at that moment. When I learned new information I would do it differently than before. So you didn’t do it wrong, you just didn’t know. And now you do.
🥰 thank you! Good therapist!
She was the best. And I try, not always successfully, to apply that understanding to Republicans, MAGA’s, and more. We all are doing the best we know how with the info we have at this moment in time. We don’t get up in the morning and say I think I’ll go screw up a bunch of stuff today. Well, maybe some people do, but the greater majority of us don’t. Most of us are always trying to do our best at every moment of the day. Most of us just don’t know any other way to be or think. Too much Fox News, or banned books at their school, or lousy parents, or ?? So I try to have some empathy for them, when I am not to wound up by their actions. But I am rambling. Yes, an excellent therapist.